US3882872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cataract surgery
Assignee: Wyeth Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 1973-04-25
•
Granted: 1975-05-13
•
Expires: 1993-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for performing cataract surgery by slicing or shearing thin layers of cataractous tissue with a surgical probe incorporating a very small diameter tip which performs as a rotary cutter. In one embodiment of the invention, this tip includes a pair of concentric tubes, the outer of which is stationary relative to the inner tube. The inner tube is driven by a miniature motor housed within the probe body. A saline solution conduit and an aspirating vacuum conduit are connected to the robe to supply an irrigating saline solution between the two cutter tips during surgery and an aspirating outlet for cataractous tissue through the bore of the rotating inner tube. The force of the aspirating vacuum is automatically controlled by a plunger which is actuated to close off the vacuum supply to limit any excessive aspiration surge forces which may be created by the reopening of a momentarily plugged tip. This automatic control is necessary to prevent anterior chamber collapse with undesired posterior corneal surface and vitreous face approximation to the probe tip. Several tip-cutter embodiments are shown which are adapted for use in surgical procedures requiring different degrees of cutting safety.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas G Douvas
- 👤 Henry T Dinkelkamp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23056; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8776
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An axially-extending cutting tip for a surgical instrument having a body and a rotary shaft mounted on said body, said cutting tip comprising a stator tube, an opening in the side wall of said stator tube defining a generally axially extending sharp cutting edge, and a rotor within said stator tube comprising at least one axially extending finger at the forward end thereof, a generally axially extending sharp cutting edge on said finger cooperative with the cutting edge of said stator tube when said rotor rotates within said stator tube, said finger being constrained by said stator tube to bias said finger cutting edge against the side wall of said stator tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An axially-extending cutting tip for a surgical instrument having a body and a rotary shaft mounted on said body, said cutting tip comprising a stator tube, an opening in the side wall of said stator tube defining a generally axially extending sharp cutting edge, and a rotor within said stator tube comprising at least one axially extending finger at the forward end thereof, a generally axially extending sharp cutting edge on said finger cooperative with the cutting edge of said stator tube when said rotor rotates within said stator tube, said finger being constrained by said stator tube to bias said finger cutting edge against the side wall of said stator tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cutting tip of claim 1 wherein said finger has an arcuate cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cutting tip of claim 2 wherein the cutting edge on said finger extends axially parallel to the tip axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cutting tip of claim 3 wherein the cutting edge on said finger is fashioned at the outer edge of an inwardly directed bevel on said finger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cutting tip of claim 2 including an end wall at the forward end of said finger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cutting tip of claim 5 including a cutting edge on said end wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cutting tip of claim 1 wherein said stator tube has an end wall at the forward end thereof and the forward end of said finger is spaced rearwardly of said end wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
A cutting tip for a surgical instrument, said cutting tip comprising: a stator tube having a side wall the inside of which is of cylindrical shape; an opening in said stator tube intercepting at least sAid side wall and defining on said side wall a sharp cutting edge; a rotor element within said stator tube, said rotor element comprising a body having a cylindrical outer wall snugly journaling said rotor element within said stator tube and a finger extending forwardly of said body, said finger comprising a sharp cutting edge cooperable with said cutting edge on said stator tube side wall; said rotor element, when unconstrained by said stator tube, having a portion of said finger thereof disposed outside of an imaginary cylindrical surface defined by a forward continuation of the cylindrical outer wall of said rotor body; said rotor element, when constrained within said stator tube, biasing said finger thereof against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
A cutting tip for a surgical instrument, said cutting tip comprising: a stator tube having a side wall the inside of which is of cylindrical shape; an opening in said stator tube intercepting at least sAid side wall and defining on said side wall a sharp cutting edge; a rotor element within said stator tube, said rotor element comprising a body having a cylindrical outer wall snugly journaling said rotor element within said stator tube and a finger extending forwardly of said body, said finger comprising a sharp cutting edge cooperable with said cutting edge on said stator tube side wall; said rotor element, when unconstrained by said stator tube, having a portion of said finger thereof disposed outside of an imaginary cylindrical surface defined by a forward continuation of the cylindrical outer wall of said rotor body; said rotor element, when constrained within said stator tube, biasing said finger thereof against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 8 wherein said finger is inclined radially outwardly and axially forwardly of said rotor body when said rotor element is unconstrained and is substantially parallel to the cutting tip axis when said rotor element is constrained within said stator tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 9 wherein said finger has a radially outer surface at least a portion of which bears against the inside of said rotor tube side wall and has a curvature substantially matching the curvature of the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 10 wherein said finger has axially extending sides and said cutting edge on said finger is fashioned on one of said finger sides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 11 wherein said finger further includes an additional cutting edge fashion on the other of said finger sides.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 12 wherein said finger cutting edges are biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 13 wherein said finger cutting edges are substantially parallel to the axis of the cutting tip when said rotor element is constrained within said stator tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 8 wherein said stator tube has a transverse end wall at the forward end thereof and the forward end of said finger is spaced rearwardly of said stator tube end wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 8 wherein said finger cutting edge is biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 8 wherein said finger is of arcuate transverse cross section having circumferentially spaced finger side edges and said cutting edge on said finger is fashioned on one of said finger side edges.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 17 wherein said finger, when unconstrained, has said one finger side edge flared outwardly biasing said finger cutting edge against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 18 wherein said finger has an additional cutting edge extending along the other of said finger side edges and biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 19 wherein said finger cutting edges are straight.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 19 wherein said finger cutting edges are parallel to the cutting tip axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 8 wherein said finger has a radially outer surface, the forward end of which is contoured to match the contour of the inside of the stator tube side wall and which contoured forward end is biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 22 wherein said finger cutting edge extends axially along a side edge of the radially outer surface of said finger.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
161 words
A cutting tip for a surgical instrument, said cutting tip comprising: a stator tube having a side wall the inside of which is of cylindrical shape; an opening in said stator tube intercepting at least said side wall and defining on said side wall a sharp cutting edge; a rotor element within said stator tube, said rotor element comprising a body having a cylindrical outer wall sNugly journaling said rotor element within said stator tube and a finger extending forwardly of said body, said finger comprising a sharp cutting edge cooperable with said cutting edge on said stator tube side wall; said rotor element, when unconstrained by said stator tube, having a portion of said finger thereof disposed outside of an imaginary cylindrical surface defined by a forward continuation of the cylindrical outer wall of said rotor body; said rotor element, when constrained within said stator tube, biasing said finger cutting edge against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
161 words
A cutting tip for a surgical instrument, said cutting tip comprising: a stator tube having a side wall the inside of which is of cylindrical shape; an opening in said stator tube intercepting at least said side wall and defining on said side wall a sharp cutting edge; a rotor element within said stator tube, said rotor element comprising a body having a cylindrical outer wall sNugly journaling said rotor element within said stator tube and a finger extending forwardly of said body, said finger comprising a sharp cutting edge cooperable with said cutting edge on said stator tube side wall; said rotor element, when unconstrained by said stator tube, having a portion of said finger thereof disposed outside of an imaginary cylindrical surface defined by a forward continuation of the cylindrical outer wall of said rotor body; said rotor element, when constrained within said stator tube, biasing said finger cutting edge against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
A cutting tip as claimemd in claim 24 wherein said finger is inclined radially outwardly and axially forwardly of said rotor body when said rotor element is unconstrained and is substantially parallel to the cutting tip axis when said rotor element is constrained within said stator tube.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 25 wherein said finger has a radially outer surface at least a portion of which is biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall and has a curvature substantially matching the curvature of the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 26 wherein said finger has axially extending sides and said cutting edge on said finger is fashioned on one of said finger sides.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 27 wherein said finger further includes an additional cutting edge fashioned on the other of said finger sides and biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 24 wherein said finger is of arcuate transverse cross section having circumferentially spaced finger side edges and said cutting edge on said finger is fashioned on one of said finger side edges.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 29 wherein said finger has said one finger side edge flared outwardly to cause said finger cutting edge to be biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 30 including an additional cutting edge extending along the other of said finger side edges and biased against the inside of said stator tube side wall.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 31 wherein said finger cutting edges are straight.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 31 wherein said finger cutting edges are parallel to the cutting tip axis.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotor includes a fluid passage therethrough.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 8 wherein said rotor body includes a fluid passage therethrough.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cutting tip as claimed in claim 24 wherein said rotor body includes a fluid passage therethrough.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |